124

DLMS User Association - Co-ordination between Applications and Channels

Paul Fuchs, Thomas Schaub

DLMS User Association., Switzerland

1. INTRODUCTION external view to them, more precisely through the

communication system.

Standardisation is highly organised, world wide, by

A special concern is the way to reality. Practical exam-
continents or by countries. Moreover, it is specialised,
ples of electricity meters for big consumers, for smaller
e.g. IEC for electrical belongings and IS0 for all other
industrial customers and for residential metering using
business including data processing. This complexity
DLMS are explained.
calls for an easier way to do first steps in implementing
the "Device Language Message Specification" standard
for meter data exchange. The DLMS User Association The advantages of an object oriented approach allows
co-ordinates the use of the "Device Language Message to handle customer requirements in a much more flexi-
Specification" in a broad way, and takes care that all ble way. This approach is a must for a deregulated and
the different existing standards (including ISO/OSI) are liberalised energy market. Especially important is the
considered. The first field of activities comprises Inter- way how requirements that are not known yet can be
face Objects describing features of energy meters, included in this object oriented approach.
mapping them to DLMS, and transporting the data
units via existing channels as e.g. the telephone net-
work.

2. WHAT MEANS INTEROPERABILITY FOR

END DEVICES?
1 device N
Ir language
message
specification In the early 1990th, many utilities introduced elec-
tronic end devices and meters, even for residential use.

I www=d'msmcom
They immediately faced the problem of insufficient
compatibility amongst products from different manu-
facturers, even having well defined and standardised
parts like the optical port for automatic reading. Only
Figure I : The trade marked DLMS Logo countries with monopolistic structures could go around
the problem, as their utilities were able to define the
DLMS in its original wording means "Distribution meter including communication channel in detail. The
Line Message Specification". The outcome of the official standardisation of these systems was a stabi-
original inventors of DLMS is embedded into the stan- lising act, more or less symbolic. Other utilities tried
dardisation work and is also supported by the DLMS another way: they influenced the standard bodies to
User Association. create standards for the data exchange for meters. This
led to a lengthy exercise with not too much practical
results yet.
DLMS is a IEC standard (IEC 61334-4-41), so the
common language is defined. The Communication Pro-
file defined by the User Association bases to a great DLMS was originally created as a standard for DLC
extent on ISO/IEC standards, e.g. HDLC for the Data (Distribution Line Carrier) systems. It is based on
Link Layer. MMS, a messaging system created by General Motors
to ease interoperability in car factories. DLMS can do
more then just serve the distribution line channel, it can
At the application side, metering objects use DLMS serve as Device Language Message Specification in
services to ensure interoperability and exchangeability. general.
An object library (called Interface Objects) allows to
build meters, which allow a manufacturer independent

Metering and Tariffs for Energy Supply, 25-28 May 1999, Conference Publicition No. 462 0 IEE 1999

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 125

3. WHAT MEANS INTEROPERABILITY FOR ways to use DLMS depending on the different field of
SYSTEMS? applications. It is one of the aims of the DLMS User
Association to offer help for all users of DLMS, with-
out being dogmatic. The main aim is to find common
Once the first step is achieved and the devices speak ground for meter data exchange for all meters, not to
the same language, the system aspects have to be con- create a “pure“ standard.
sidered. Of course, multiple communication channels
must be supported. Each channel needs a specific inter-
facing link to adapt to its physical specialities. For the
data coJlection centre, the channel for the transport of
the information should not matter. 5. THE APPROCHES TO AN INTEROPERABLE
METER
To support this request, first a common language is
needed (DLMS). But even speaking the same lan- 5.1 For gas, water and heat meters
guage, it is necessary to formulate the content of the
message in a common and standardised way. Informa-
These meters traditionally use simple tariff structures.
tion models for energy meters must be defined, so that
The functionality of the meter differs very little from
the data collection centre gets the information in‘ the
country to country. CEN TC294 has therefore used a
same way, no matter who manufactured the meter and
straight forward approach towards an interoperable
no matter which kind of measured media is expressed
meter; i.e. they defined a complete meter model. This
in the message.
complete meter model consists of a set of DLMS vari-
ables which are accessed via the DLMS services “read”
4. WHAT MEANS INTEROPERABILITY FOR and “write”. The result is published as draft N58 within
STANDARDISATION CEN TC294.

5.2 For electricity meters

DLMS started its life in IEC TC57 (power system con-
trol and associated communications), where WG9
(Distribution automation using distribution line carrier Electricity metering and tariffing has a long history.
systems) defined a complete system for data exchange Different countries use different tariff and rate models.
via distribution line carrier transmission. Soon after, The resulting metering products are matched to local
IEC TC13 (Equipment for electrical energy measure- markets.
ments and load control) and its WG14 (Data exchange
for meter reading, tariff and load control) took DLMS
The approach towards interoperability cannot be the
as a base for a telephone based system and for the
same as for gas, water and heat meters. The DLMS
modernisation of the twisted pair bus system. A SJWG
User Association therefore decided not to specify THE
13/57 (Special Joint Working Group) paved the way
meter but to define standardised building blocks from
for a good co-ordination. At the same time, CEN
which a meter can be assembled. The complex func-
started with a new TC 294 (Communication systems
tionality of the meter is divided into generic building
for and remote reading of meters), and a co-ordination
blocks. The standardised building blocks form a library
with CENELEC TC13 via a JWG RRM (Joint Working
from which a customised meter can be built. When de-
Group Remote Reading of Meters) was initiated. As
fining the building blocks the needs of different mar-
CENELEC TC13 and IEC TC13 work in common
kets were considered. The concept of standardised
(they have a common voting procedure), the link was
building blocks offers the different manufacturers a
established.
maximum amount of diversity without giving up on
interoperability.

6. WHAT MEANS INTEROPERABILITY FOR

DIFFERENT CHANNELS
Figure 2: The main links between DLMS standards

The co-ordination between applications and channels

The diversity of standardisation bodies working with has one main aim: to avoid the re-engineering of an
DLMS has an obvious consequence: there are different application in the case of a changing channel. The in-

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 126

terface to the channel must therefore be flexible. Eve- channels? Of course, the ISO/OSI model was created
rybody is nowadays aware of the role of a modem in for that purpose.
the PC world. It is normally a little box between the
application (e.g. an Internet browser) and the channel
The seven layer OS1 model proves soon as rather com-
(e.g. the public telephone line or the connector of the
plex. Therefore simpler implementations concatenate
cable TV). This box can also be integrated in the PC
functions of several layers into one layer, e.g., the ap-
(freaks know, that the difference is marginal, it is just a
plication layer serves also for transport and presenta-
board inside the machine).
tion. Such a simplified model is already standardised,
~~~
and the DLMS UA recommendation bases on this
model. The three layer model is often called "En-
The Communicating Meter hanced Performance Architecture" EPA.
I Metering Objects 1 What is this all about? The comparison with the good
old postal services are still valid: If a letter is written,
no matter what it contains, it is put into an envelope, it
is addressed and stamped. The content is the compara-
ble with the application, the paper with the application
layer. Once the letter is thrown into a letterbox, the
sender is no longer interested in technical details. He or
she just wants the letter to arrive safely at the destina-
tion. The transport is comparable with the channel. The
logistics is the link layer, the transportation means
(automobile, train, aeroplane) is the physical layer.
The methods of packing and unpacking is typical for a
layered transport: The envelope stays unchanged, if
Charinels many letters fill a postal bag, and many postal bags
will fill a container which fits in the cargo department
of the plane. If the "channel" is a train, the container
will not be the same, it must be adapted to the other
conditions. But the postal bags will stay the same. If
Figure 3: The role of the Interfacing Link
however an express parcel service transports the letter,
it will be put in a separate plastic bag and use fast
An end device (e.g. a meter) faces the same problem. It transport means.
shall have a representation of the application which
looks the same for equal applications of all different
For the communication channels, similar elements be-
makes of the device, seen from the outside world. In
come true. It might be possible to use the same link
old times, we were used to see the same presentation of
layer for the optical and for the telephone communica-
mechanical registers on all meters of all makes. The
tion, whereas a DLC channel needs another link layer.
DLMS User Association supports and proposes means
Important is the fact, that the application (the letter) is
which allow to have the same effect, seen through the
well defined, so that it is even possible to change the
communication channel. The adaptation to the channel
channel during the transport without unpacking and
specific peculiarities is done by a "modem". This mo-
dem is interchangeable, in the ideal case without dis- repackaging of the message.
mantling the end device.

8. ENERGY METERS AND THEIR

7. WHAT MEANS INTEROPERABILITY FOR INTEROPERABLE BUILDING BLOCKS
THE DEFINITION PROCESS
The DLMS User Association created a set of object
A channel was normally the first item which attracted oriented application definitions as "Companion Speci-
organisations to create a new standard. The whole rest fication for Energy Metering". These interface objects
was then built around the channel. How can this con- are open to all members of the DLMS User Associa-
cept be generalised in order to use a multi-channel ar- tion. It is the clear aim to open them to standardisation
chitecture and to co-ordinate between applications and also. They are a complete set of specifications defining
a library of metering objects.

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 127

The purpose is to be capable to address the same things 10. THE DLMS USER ASSOCIATION AND THE
in the same way. Furthermore, it shall be possible to STEPS TO INTEROPERABILITY
create more complex objects in using adequate simpler
objects as building blocks in inheriting their properties.
The DLMS User Association was founded by three
major meter manufacturers in 1997, after a successful
To formally pack the information, a language shall be
presentation of DLMS at MATES 1996 at a common
used, which is generally understood, the Device Lan-
booth of the founding members. During its existence,
guage Message Specification DLMS.
the DLMS UA presented itself at DA/DSM Europe '97,
CIFACES '98 and DA/DSM '98. Each time, more
Back to the application: It is necessary to find a com- members had joined the Association, and the exhibits
mon way to describe them. This is not sufficient, it became more practical.
must be impossible to misunderstand the description.
This fact is true for many fields of the information
Members of the DLMS User Associations are (status at
technology, and the answer is to define objects.
December 1998):
ABB Netzleittechnik
The drawing above shows the different objects and
CHAUVIN ARNOUX
their relations. One example shall be detailed: The In-
Delta Software Engineering
terface Class "Register":
Deutsche Zahlergesellschaft
ELECTRICITE DE FRANCE
A Register object stores a process value or a status Elster Produktion
value with its associated unit. The Register object EMH Elektrizitatszahler
knows the nature of the process value or of the status Enermet
value. The nature of the value is described by the at- GAZ DE FRANCE
tribute "logical name" (e.g. using the identification Gorlitz Computerbau
system EDIS where applicable). EDIS means Energy HYDROMETER
Data Identification System, it is a work item of IEC ISKRAEMECO
TC 13 WG 14. ITRON
KAMSTRUP
KEMA Nederland
M-Bus User Group
RWE Energie
9. COSEM DEFINITIONS FOR MORE Santel
INTEROPERABILITY Schlumberger Industries
Siemens Metering
Spanner Pollux
The Management Committee of the DLMS User Asso-
ciation sanctioned the founding of a new Working
Group Value Added Services" (WG VAS). This WG
11. INTEROPERABLE COSEM METERS
will define objects in conformance with COSEM Inter-
face Objects The needs will be investigated and clari-
fied by the WG, but the general direction is clear. VAS
The meters shown are partly taken from pre-series,
are customer oriented services which can be provided
partly advanced prototypes. They fulfil the COSEM
by utilities in using the existing infrastructure, e.g. the
description DLMS UA 1000-1 and ..-2, revision 1.
meter for providing customer information about energy
Their functionality is still limited mainly to residential
consumed, power and load control, tariff switching etc.
use. This is intended, as the first DLMS meters on the
Another possibility is to use the communication chan-
market will be mass products for the residential use.
nel for customer information, e.g. pre-warnings about
dynamic peak tariffs, service information etc. This is
one next step on the application side. The co-ordination between applications and channels is
clearly visible: The meters can serve partially more
then one channel, e.g. the use PSTN (telephone) and
There are also next steps on the channel side. The M-
the optical link (IEC 1107), but they speak DLMS and
Bus User Group and the DLMS User Association have
they exchange the same COSEM objects over both
signed an agreement, they give each other the member-
channels. This is the most important step towards a co-
ship rights in order to make best use of their mutual
ordinated handling of applications and channels. Of
interests.
course, there is still a backward compatibility to the

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 128

classical data formats, the meter finds out automati- will make sure that his facilities do not create dis-
cally if the hand terminal speaks DLMS or not. turbances on the network.

Programming of voltage interruptions (optimisation

The new generation of meters is clearly directed to-
of dates, times and duration decided on with the
wards the liberalised market. The installation (or the
customer).
meter exchange) is supported by built-in software, a
pulsing output can be used e.g. to inform local load
0 Customer information (systematic information con-
controllers about the actual load, and last but not least,
cerning long power cuts).
the meter is built in a modular way, which allows to
add or change modules with different functionalities
0 Monthly payment
(e.g. supporting different channels) without interfering
with the measuring device "electricity meter" itself.
0 Tariff advice (optimisation)

0 Annual and monthly report (a full report on the

management of the supply contract for the past year
is sent and, on request, a monthly load curve)
12. DLMS USED IN INTEROPERABLE
COMPLEX METERING 0 Information on Peak Day Demand Reduction (EJP)

In IEC TC13 WG14, DLMS Standards are working Electricity applications (information and, on re-
items. Close to publication are the following Technical quest, a techno-economic study of a process)
Reports or Standards:

IEC 62056-31 (... using local area networks with car-

rier signalling)
13. CONCLUSION
IEC 62056-41 (... using wide area networks: PSTN
with LINK+ protocol)
Concluding can be said, that DLMS is a tool to make
IEC 62056-5 1 (Application layer protocols) meters interoperable, which in turn is a precondition
for a liberalised energy market. Real products are on
IEC 62056-52 (Management DLMS server) the market, and the DLMS User Association will help
to co-ordinate the implementations, as well on the ap-
plication side as on the channel side.
The already mentioned activities in the field of gas,
heat, and water meters of CEN TC294 base on these
reports. Also possible is the use of DLMS for down- The DLMS User Association is not a standardising
loading executable code, a possibility used by Elec- body, but it closely works together with national and
tricite de France. international bodies, in order to bridge the gap of offi-
cial standardising work to real implementations.
The first service offered by EDF using these standards
is called Emeraude Service. Its concept is to offer a
tariff contract for large-scale industry including a
commitment to the level of quality of electrical supply.
DLMS is used to download applications and to ex-
change meter, service and customer data.

The range of services designed for major industrial

companies comprises 9 points:

0 Emeraude : Electricite de France guarantees a qual-

ity supply level. It commits itself on precise crite-
ria, such as the limitation of the number of long or
short power cuts. If these criteria are not complied
with, the Company will compensate the customer
according to the damage suffered. The customer

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